Combined seal cutter and closure removing device



Feb. 18, 1958 BROWNSON 2,823,395

COMBINED SEAL CUTTER AND CLOSURE REMOVING DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1956 United States Patent '0 COMBINED SEAL CUTTER AND CLOSURE REMOVING DEVICE Harvey A. Brownson, Baltimore, Md. Application September 14, 1956, Serial No. 609,922 1 Claim. (Cl. 7-14.25)

This invention relates generally to devices for the removal of closures on bottles and the like. More particularly, this invention pertains to a novel cutter device for cutting a plastic seal shrunken over the bottle cap or cork and bottle neck, including means for the complete removal of the seal and the cap or cork.

It has become common practice to provide a plastic seal over the cap or cork and neck of a bottle. A seal of this type makes the bottle air-tight, and, at the same time, it shows that the bottle has not been opened. However, a seal of this type has the disadvantage of being difficult to unseal and remove from the bottle.

If the seal is removed from the bottle without the use of tools, the plastic material, of which the seal is usually composed, is stilt and sharp enough to penetrate or cut the skin of the person removing the seal from the bottle, with possible injury thereto.

In addition, the unsealing and removing of the seal takes time. Usually several attempts must be made before the seal is removed from the bottle. This introduces, therefore, other incidental inconveniences.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a novel cutter device for cutting a plastic seal shrunken over the cap or cork and bottle neck of a bottle.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel, unique cutter-remover device for cutting a seal on a bottle and for simultaneously removing the bottle cap or cork.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new cutter-remover device which is economical to manufacture, efficient and reliable in operation, and which is easy to utilize and maintain.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel cutter-remover device for cutting and removing the seal and cap or cork of a bottle, as well as additional means which can be used for opening cans and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved plastic seal cutter and bottle cap remover which will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved cutter-remover device which is compact and easy to manipulate.

And even another object of this invention is to provide a combination cutter-remover device, which has other attachments to facilitate the opening of containers of various types.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more readily understood from the accompanying specifications and drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the novel cutter-remover device comprising this invention, including various attachments;

Fig. 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a detail of the upper jaw of the cutter-remover device illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of a detail of Fig. 1;

"ice

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partially in cross-section, of the cutter-remover device illustrating the manner of operation on a sealed bottle having a screw cap;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partially in cross-section, of the cutter-remover device illustrating the manner of operation on an unsealed bottle having a screw cap; and

Fig. 7 is a cross-section of a modification of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 for providing another means for inserting and holding a blade in operative position.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, there is illustrated a novel cutter-remover device 8, comprising this invention. This device 8 can be utilized forthe-removal of closures ofbottles and the like, particularly'for cutting a plastic seal shrunk over a bottle cap or cork and bottle neck, as shown in Fig. 5.

The cutter-remover device consists of two handles 10 and 12, which are pivotally connected together by a pin 14, as shown best in Fig.- 1. Spaced serrated gripping jaws 16 and 16A and 18 and 18A are provided at the extremities of the handles 10 and 12, respectively of the device 8.

Blades 20 and 22 are mounted in slots 24 and 26 provided between the jaws 16 and 16A and jaws 18 and 18A, respectively. Each blade 20 or 22 is maintained in an operative position by a pair of pins 28 and 30, respectively, which pass through the spaced jaws and the corresponding blade, as shown best in Figs. 1 and 4.

A pointed opener element 32, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is provided at the extreme end of jaws 16 and 16A. Element 32 is an integral part of the jaw structure. This opener element 32 is utilized to open cans, as will be subsequently described.

As shown in Fig. l, a bottle opening attachment 34 is located on the handle 10 near the pivot pin 14. This opening attachment 34 is of a conventional type, and it is used in a conventional manner to remove caps from bottles.

A cork-screw 36 is pivotally mounted to handle 12 of the device by means of a pin 38. This cork-screw 36, when not in use, is inserted into an opening 40 provided within the handle structure 12. The handle structure defining the opening 40 is also provided with a cut-away 42 so that a grip may be obtained of the cork-screw 36 when it is desired to use it.

In the event it is desired to make the blades 20 and 22 removable instead of fixed as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the blade, such as 56, can be mounted in a slot 60 as shown in Fig. 7. This slot 60 is provided between the portions of each jaw 16 and 16A, or 18 and 18A. The slot 60 is tapered to fit a taper 58 of the blade 56. A slight pressure is suflicient to make a snug fit of the blade 56 and slot 60. Of course, the pressure of the cutting of the seal makes the fit even more firm. By means of this arrangement, the pins 28 and 30 in Figs. 1 and 4 can be eliminated. Other possible arrangements can be utilized for holding the blades 20 and 22 in the slots 24 and 26, respectively.

Referring now to Fig. 5 of the drawing, one cutter-remover device 8 is illustrated in section, in operative use. As the jaws 16A and 18A grip a cap 50, of a bottle 62, the blades 20 and 22 cut a plastic seal 52 on the bottle. With one twist of the hand of the user of the device 8, the seal 52 is cut and the cap 50 is loosened so as to be removed easily from the bottle 62 by means of the fingers. The wide jaws 16 and 18 are used where it is necessary to remove a cap 64 only, where no seal is provided on a bottle 62 to be cut, as shown in Fig. 6.

When it is desired to open a can, the opener element 32 of the device 8 can be utilized. The opener element 32 is placed against the top of a can and the notched portion 31 thereof is placed over the bead of the can (not shown). Pressure is then applied to the device 8 in a clockwise direction to force the pointed opener element 32 into the top of the can.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claim, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

A combination cutter-remover device for use in simultaneously cutting a seal and turning a closure of a bottle, said device comprising a pair of crossed levers pivotally connected together and having handles extending in one direction and gripping jaws extending in an opposite direction from the pivot, said jaws having arcuate, serrated closure-engaging surfaces, and a cutter blade secured to each gripping jaw and projecting inwardly from its closure-engaging surface, so that upon squeezing of the handles the jaws will move toward each other to cause the cutter blades to pierce the seal while the closure-engaging surfaces grip the closure and a subsequent turning of the device will effect a severing of the seal and turning of the closure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 104,453 Haviland June 21, 1870 257,982 Schmidt May 16, 1882 295,721 Bevins Mar. 25, 1884 2,729,125 Krzanowski Jan. 3, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,940 Great Britain 1889 283,408 Germany Apr. 14, 1915 

